U.S. patent application number 13/757360 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-02 for low profile roller fairlead.
This patent application is currently assigned to WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Darren G. FRETZ.
Application Number | 20140001428 13/757360 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51262988 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140001428 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FRETZ; Darren G. |
January 2, 2014 |
Low Profile Roller Fairlead
Abstract
A fairlead assembly includes a frame structure having an opening
therein. A pair of rollers are disposed on opposite sides of the
opening. The frame structure includes a pair of opposed curved
surfaces disposed between the end portions of the pair of rollers
and defining a bordering surface of the opening. The frame can be
cast as a unitary structure with the pair of rollers each rotatably
supported by a support pin having opposite ends received in a first
set of corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses in a surface of the
cast frame. A clamp structure having a second set of corresponding
semi-cylindrical recesses secure the support pins to the cast
frame.
Inventors: |
FRETZ; Darren G.; (Canby,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WARN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
Clackamas |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Clackamas
OR
|
Family ID: |
51262988 |
Appl. No.: |
13/757360 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61665952 |
Jun 29, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
254/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66D 1/12 20130101; B66D
1/36 20130101; B66D 1/14 20130101; B66D 2700/0191 20130101; B66D
1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
254/395 |
International
Class: |
B66D 1/36 20060101
B66D001/36 |
Claims
1. A fairlead assembly, comprising: a frame structure having an
opening therein; and a pair of rollers disposed on opposite sides
of said opening, said rollers each having two end portions, said
frame structure having a pair of opposed curved surfaces disposed
between said end portions of said pair of rollers and defining a
bordering surface of said opening.
2. The fairlead assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pair of
rollers are each rotatably mounted on a respective support pin
supported by said frame structure.
3. The fairlead assembly according to claim 2, wherein said frame
includes a pair of recesses receiving opposite ends of each of said
respective support pins.
4. The fairlead assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a
clamp structure secured to said frame structure to engage said
support pins to said frame structure.
5. The fairlead assembly according to claim 4, wherein said clamp
structure includes a pair of curved surfaces that are coincident
with said pair of opposed curved surfaces of said frame.
6. The fairlead assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a
journal disposed between each end of said pair of rollers and said
support pins.
7. The fairlead assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pair of
opposed curved surfaces overlap said end portions of said pair of
rollers.
8. The fairlead assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pair of
rollers each have an axis of rotation that lie in a common plane
and said frame structure has a lower-most surface spaced from said
common plane in a first direction and an upper-most surface spaced
from said common plane in a second direction opposite to said first
direction, wherein a distance between said upper-most surface and
said lower-most surface defines a height profile of said fairlead
assembly, wherein said height profile of said fairlead assembly is
less than 1.5 times a diameter of one of said pair of rollers.
9. The fairlead assembly according to claim 2, wherein said frame
has a pair of apertures receiving opposite ends of each of said
respective support pins.
10. The fairlead assembly according to claim 9, wherein said
support pins each include at least one recessed groove for
receiving a C-clamp for securing the support pins to the frame.
11. A fairlead assembly, comprising: a cast frame formed as a
unitary structure having an opening therein; a pair of rollers
disposed on opposite sides of said opening, said rollers each
rotatably supported by a support pin having opposite ends received
in a first set of corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses in a
surface of said cast frame; and a clamp structure having a second
set of corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses opposing said first
set of corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses and securing said
support pin to said cast frame.
12. The fairlead assembly according to claim 11, wherein said frame
structure includes a pair of opposed curved surfaces disposed
between end portions of said pair of rollers and defining a
bordering surface of said opening.
13. The fairlead assembly according to claim 11, further comprising
a journal disposed between each end of said pair of rollers and
said support pins.
14. The fairlead assembly according to claim 12, wherein said pair
of opposed curved surfaces overlap said end portions of said pair
of rollers.
15. The fairlead assembly according to claim 11, wherein said pair
of rollers each have an axis of rotation that lie in a common plane
and said frame structure has a lower-most surface spaced from said
common plane in a first direction and an upper-most surface spaced
from said common plane in a second direction opposite to said first
direction, wherein a distance between said upper-most surface and
said lower-most surface defines a height profile of said fairlead
assembly, wherein said height profile of said fairlead assembly is
less than 1.5 times a diameter of one of said pair of rollers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/665,952, filed on Jun. 29, 2012. The entire
disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to cable pulling devices such
as a winch or hoist and more particularly to a low profile roller
fairlead for a cable pulling device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This section provides background information related to the
present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
[0004] Fairleads are commonly used for guiding a cable or rope from
a winch, hoist, or other pulling tool. Known fairleads include an
opening through which the cable or rope is guided between a first
opposing pair of rollers that are disposed above and below the
opening, as well as a second opposing pair of rollers on each side
of the opening for providing a rolling surface along which the
cable can be pulled with little frictional resistance. Because of
the stacking arrangement of the rollers, the fairlead assembly can
have a fairly tall profile. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide
a lower profile fairlead that still maintains reduced friction on
the cable or rope that is led therethrough.
SUMMARY
[0005] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure,
and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of
its features.
[0006] A fairlead assembly includes a frame structure having an
opening therein. A pair of horizontal rollers are disposed on
opposite upper and lower sides of the opening. The frame structure
includes a pair of opposed curved side surfaces disposed between
and enveloping the end portions of the pair of rollers and defining
a side bordering surface of the opening.
[0007] The frame can be cast as a unitary structure with the pair
of rollers each rotatably supported by a support pin having
opposite ends received in a first set of corresponding
semi-cylindrical recesses in a surface of the cast frame. A clamp
structure having a second set of corresponding semi-cylindrical
recesses secure the support pins to the cast frame. The fairlead
assembly has a low profile while using upper and lower horizontal
rollers and curved side walls generally in a same plane as the
horizontal rollers for guiding the winch cable.
[0008] According to a further alternative aspect of the present
disclosure, the pair of rollers can include a support pin having
opposite ends each received in an aperture within the frame. One or
both ends of the support pins can include a recessed groove for
receiving a C-clamp to secure the support pins to the frame.
[0009] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. The description and specific examples
in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and
are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0010] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes
only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a low profile roller fairlead
according to the principles of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of
the roller fairlead assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the roller fairlead
taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the roller fairlead
taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative
roller fairlead assembly according to the principles of the present
disclosure.
[0016] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0018] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure
will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are
skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as
examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a
thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details
need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in
many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit
the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments,
well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known
technologies are not described in detail.
[0019] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises,"
"comprising," "including," and "having," are inclusive and
therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The
method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to
be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the
particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically
identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood
that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0020] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on,"
"engaged to," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or
layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the
other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be
present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or
"directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no
intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to
describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in
a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between,"
"adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the
term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items.
[0021] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used
herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers
and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or
sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be
only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or
section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as
"first," "second," and other numerical terms when used herein do
not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the
context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section
discussed below could be termed a second element, component,
region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of
the example embodiments.
[0022] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer,"
"beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be
used herein for ease of description to describe one element or
feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as
illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be
intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use
or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the
figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over,
elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or
features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or
features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise
oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the
spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
accordingly.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 1, the fairlead assembly 10,
according to the principles of the present disclosure, will now be
described. The fairlead assembly 10 includes a frame 12 defining an
opening 14 therethrough and supporting a pair of rollers 16 on
opposite sides of the opening 14. The frame 12 can be formed by a
casting process to form a unitary structure. The frame 12 can
include a pair of opposed curved surfaces 18 disposed between the
end portions 20 of the pair of rollers 16 in a close proximity
thereto for defining a bordering surface of the opening 14. The
pair of opposed curved surfaces 18 can overlap the end portions 20
of the pair of rollers 16.
[0024] The pair of rollers 16 are each rotatably mounted on a
respective support pin 22 by a pair of journals 24 disposed on each
end of the support pins 22. The journals 24 can be rotatably
mounted on the support pins 22 and can be press fit into the ends
of the rollers 16. The journals 24 can be provided with a serrated
outer surface 24a and an end flange 24b that serves as a stop as
the journal 24 is press fit into the end of the roller 16.
[0025] The ends 26 of the support pins 22 can each be received in a
semi-cylindrical recess 28 that is formed into the cast frame 12 at
each end. A pair of clamp members 30 are each provided with
corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses 32 for securing the support
pins 22 to the frame 12. The clamp members 30 are secured to the
frame 12 by threaded fasteners 34 which are received in apertures
36 provided in the clamp member 30 and threaded apertures 38
provided in the frame member 12. The clamp members 30 are each
provided with a curved surface 40 that is coincident with the
opposed curved surfaces 18 of the frame 12 to provide a continuous
curved surface from the inside around to the outside of the frame
12.
[0026] As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the pair of opposed curved
surfaces 18 overlap the end portion 20 of the pair of rollers 16 so
that the sharp edges on the ends of the rollers 16 are not exposed
to the cable or rope that is guided therethrough. Furthermore, the
pair of curved surfaces closely envelop the ends 20 of the rollers
16 to provide a very small gap therebetween so that a cable or rope
cannot become bound in the gap.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the fairlead has an uppermost
surface and a lowermost surface that define a height profile of the
fairlead assembly wherein the height profile is only slightly
larger than the diameter D of the rollers 16. According to a
preferred embodiment, the height profile H is less than two times
the diameter D of the roller 16. According to a more preferred
embodiment, the height profile H is less than 1.5 times, and more
preferably, less than 1.33 times the diameter D of the rollers 16.
In the embodiment shown, the height H is less than 1.25.times. the
diameter D of the rollers 16.
[0028] It is noted that the frame 12 can be cast from iron,
aluminum, or other metals, or from plastic or composite materials.
The clamp members 30 can also be made of the same materials or
different materials than the frame 12.
[0029] According to an alternative embodiment as illustrated in
FIG. 5, the frame 112 can be provided with a pair of apertures 114
at opposite ends. A pair of rollers 116 are each rotatably mounted
on a respective support pin 122 by a pair of journals 124 disposed
on each end of the support pins 122. The journals 124 can be
rotatably mounted on the support pins 122 and can be press fit into
the ends of the rollers 116. The journals 124 can be provided with
a serrated outer surface 124a and an end flange 124b that serves as
a stop as the journal 124 is press fit into the end of the rollers
116. One or both ends of the support pins 122 can be provided with
a recessed groove 126 for receiving a C-clamp 128 to secure the
support pins to the frame 112. As an alternative, it should be
understood that the support pins 122 can also be provided with an
end flange on one end that is integrally formed with the support
pin so that only one C-clamp 128 is needed at one end of the
support pin 122. It is noted that with this embodiment, the
function of the fairlead 110 is very similar to the function of the
fairlead 10 as described above.
[0030] With the low profile roller fairlead 10, 110 according to
the principles of the present disclosure, the fairlead is made with
a robust construction having a very low height profile and with no
sharp edges that can fray a cable or rope that is directed
therethrough.
[0031] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been
provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual
elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not
limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are
interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if
not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in
many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be
included within the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *